UAE Overtime Calculator: Free Tool with 1.25x and 1.5x Rates
Ahmad works late on a Tuesday evening, staying until 21:00 to finish a project. He assumes he will be paid extra, but when his payslip arrives, he sees nothing. He messages his manager, who says overtime is “calculated next month”. He shrugs and moves on. Three months later, he still has not seen the payment. He has no idea if he is owed AED 200 or AED 2,000. His manager avoids his questions.
This is the reality for thousands of UAE workers. Overtime is owed, but calculating it is confusing. Basic salary, multipliers, day rates, night rates, Friday rates, caps, and compensatory days all blur together. Without a clear number in your hand, you cannot challenge underpayment confidently.
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This calculator removes the confusion. Input your salary and the hours you worked. The tool does the maths and tells you exactly what you should receive.
The Calculator
How to Read the Result
The calculator shows three pieces of information:
Hourly Base Rate: This is your basic salary divided by 30 days and then by 8 hours. This is the foundation for all overtime calculations under UAE Labour Law.
Multiplier Applied: The tool will show whether you received 1.25x (daytime), 1.5x (night or Friday), or 2.5x (Friday without compensatory day). This multiplier is the legal premium you earn on top of your base rate.
Total Overtime Pay: This is what you should receive. Compare this to your payslip. If the numbers match, you are paid fairly. If your payslip shows less, you have underpayment evidence.
Day Rate vs Night and Friday Rate
Overtime pay depends on when you worked. Understanding the difference is essential.
Daytime Overtime (06:00 to 21:00 on a working day): You receive 1.25x your hourly base rate. This means a 25% premium above your normal hourly pay.
Night Overtime (21:00 to 04:00 any day): You receive 1.5x your hourly base rate. This means a 50% premium.
Friday or Rest Day Overtime: You receive 1.5x your hourly base rate for the hours worked, plus entitlement to a compensatory day off during the same week. If your employer fails to provide a compensatory day, the multiplier increases to 2.5x (150% premium).
The calculator asks which category applies. Choose the correct one, and the result will be accurate.
Example: AED 8,000 Salary, 3 Hours of Night Overtime
Calculation:
Hourly base rate = AED 8,000 รท 30 รท 8 = AED 33.33
Overtime pay = AED 33.33 ร 3 hours ร 1.5 = AED 149.99
Result: You should be paid AED 150 for three hours of night overtime.
What it means: If your payslip shows AED 150 or more, you are paid fairly. If it shows less (or nothing), you have evidence of underpayment and can file a complaint with MOHRE’s Labour Dispute Resolution Centre.
Common Payroll Errors This Calculator Prevents
Error 1: Using gross salary instead of basic salary. Some payroll systems incorrectly include allowances in the overtime calculation. The law mandates basic salary only. This calculator uses your basic figure only.
Error 2: Forgetting the night premium. A payroll team might apply 1.25x to all overtime, even night hours. This calculator distinguishes night work and applies 1.5x automatically.
Error 3: Omitting Friday premium. If you work your designated rest day and your employer does not provide a compensatory day, you are owed 2.5x, not 1.5x. This calculator accounts for that scenario.
Error 4: Miscounting hours or days. Manual calculations introduce rounding errors. This calculator avoids them.
When to Use This Calculator
Use this tool every time you work overtime. Log your hours daily in a spreadsheet. At the end of the month, calculate the expected payment. Compare to your payslip. If there is a gap, document it and ask your payroll team for a correction.
Keep a record of all calculations. This becomes evidence if you need to file a formal complaint with MOHRE.
What to Do If Your Payslip Is Incorrect
Step 1: Run the calculation using this tool.
Step 2: Request a corrected payslip from your HR or payroll department. Often underpayment is a system error, not intentional fraud.
Step 3: If they refuse to correct it, file a complaint with MOHRE’s Labour Dispute Resolution Centre. Bring this calculator output and your payslips as evidence.
Step 4: MOHRE will investigate and order backpayment for up to three years if underpayment is confirmed.
Understanding Compensatory Days
If you work on a Friday (your rest day), you are entitled to either a compensatory day off during the same week, or 2.5x pay for those hours. This is not optional.
Confirm with your manager or HR before you work a Friday whether a compensatory day will be provided. If not, the 2.5x rate applies automatically.
Do not accept a vague “we’ll sort it out” response. Insist on clarity in writing.
Deeper Dive
For the full formula breakdown, worked examples, and understanding of daily and weekly overtime caps, see the Overtime Calculation in UAE guide. To understand your full rights around working hours, rest periods, and Ramadan rules, review the UAE Labour Law Working Hours article.
Sources
- Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 Concerning Regulating Labour Relations (UAE Labour Law). Articles on working hours and overtime compensation.
- MOHRE (Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation). Overtime Calculation Guidelines. Retrieved 2025.
- TimeChart. Overtime Calculation UAE Online Tool. 2025.
- Bayzat. Overtime Calculation UAE Blog. 2025.
- Accel HR Consulting. Overtime Calculation in UAE as Per Labour Law 2026. 2025.
